Chapter Nine: The Midnight Dance
"Who's the letter from, Harry?" Ron asked as Harry read a dirty piece of parchment.
"Si- I mean, Snuffles," he said, looking around. Ron and Hermione leaned in close to see what the letter read. Jasna was sleeping in that Saturday.
"What's it say, then?" Hermione said with a grin. Harry had been keeping in contact with Sirius all year. This letter had been expected. Harry had written him a long and detailed letter a few weeks ago explaining about Jasna and Harry's relationship with her. The three were anxious to hear his opinion. Harry read them the letter in a whisper.
"Harry, I heard Jasna Larden would be coming to Hogwarts. Professor Grant at St. Laurel's Academy of Witchcraft feared she would turn out like her father. Your description of her is pleasant and she sounds like a very nice girl. I have no doubt you trust her. But you must understand I do have my suspicions. I'm not saying I don't trust her. You trust her, and that is good enough for me. It's just, Voldemort would do anything to get to you and I know he would even sacrifice his own daughter if necessary. Both of you need to watch out." Harry folded the letter. Ron and Hermione frowned.
"It looked longer than that," Ron said, suspiciously. Harry grinned.
"Oh, it was," he told them, mischievously.
"Well, why won't you share?" Hermione asked.
"Don't take it personally, Hermione," Harry said, "It's something that's staying strictly between me and Sirius." His grin was so wide, his friends swore it spread to his ears.
That evening, Harry went through the letter on his own.
As your godfather, I would like to show my godson a good time. If you don't mind that is. If you and Jasna would walk by the lake at around eleven o'clock tonight, you will find a gift from me to you. I still have some romance and mischief left in me, you know. I hope you two like it.
Sirius
"Harry, what are you doing?" Harry jumped and crumpled the paper in his hand.
"Hello, Jasna!" he grinned. She looked at him skeptically.
"Why did you ask that I dress up?" she asked him, noticing he was in his own dress robes.
"You look great," was his answer as he admired her violate gown. He hair was up on top of her head, giving her a formal look. Jasna was still suspicious.
"Where are we going?" she asked, "It's ten thirty!"
"I know," Harry grinned, offering his arm.
"We aren't supposed to…"
"Oh, come on, Jasna! It's a Saturday
night!" Harry protested. Jasna smiled.
"I guess you're right," she sighed, taking his offered arm. Harry winked at her as he tossed the invisibility cloak over the two of them. As they left the common room, Jasna nearly tripped as she got her foot stuck. As Harry helped her, she fell into his arms and they both started laughing, but immediately stopped, afraid someone would hear. Jasna could hardly keep from giggling. They finally reached the large oak doors and when they were outside, Jasna burst out laughing. Harry tried to quiet her, but it was difficult, especially since he was laughing himself. Sneaking around school had never been half as hysterical as it was at that moment.
"Where to now, Harry?" Jasna asked. Harry looked over to the lake, glistening in the moonlight. Jasna beamed. It was another clear night and the moon was full and the stars were scattered like diamonds in a black velvet cloak. The night was calm and the warm wind whistled through the grass, peacefully. The trees in the forest didn't look half as menacing as they had a month ago. The lake didn't have a ripple on it and it spread out on the horizon like smooth, dark glass. Spring had arrived.
Jasna and Harry threw off the invisibility cloak and, hand in hand, they walked over to the lake. Jasna had her eyes on the stars. Harry was looking at the lake, eyes darting all over the place for Sirius' 'surprise.' He was getting worried. What if there was no surprise? What if Sirius hadn't even written that note? What if it was a trap?
Harry went rigid and stopped.
"What is it, Harry?" Jasna asked him. Harry looked around at the lake and realized he was being paranoid.
"Nothing," he sighed, and smiled again. He continued walking with her. As they neared the lake, they were met by a black dog. Harry grinned.
"I knew it," he said. Jasna looked at him, confused.
"What?"
"Nothing," Harry said again, scratching the dog behind the ears. The dog wagged his tail in
appreciation. He looked Jasna up and
down, with a studying expression to his eyes.
"Harry," Jasna whispered, anxiously, "There's something…"
"Don't worry, Jasna," Harry assured her, "Everything's fine." The dog nodded at Jasna, then turned to
Harry again. Gently, pulled at Harry's
robes, directing him to a path by the lake.
Harry and Jasna followed obediently.
As they walked by the path, scattered lights lit up among the
plants. Jasna gasped and looked
around. She examined a light closely
and grinned.
"Fairy lights," she said to Harry, "How did you manage it?" Harry didn't reply. He was too happy to respond. The dog continued walking in front of them on the path. Harry and Jasna jumped as they heard a violin. Looking around, Harry noticed that there was a violin floating in the air. It was soon joined by a cello, a piano, and a flute, all playing by themselves. Jasna gaped. This was all incredible!
"Harry, how on earth…" she started.
But Harry put a finger to her lips.
"Shh," he said, taking both of her hands.
She smiled warmly at him and he kissed her soft lips.
"Care to dance?" Harry asked her. Jasna's warm smile turned into a grin.
"I'd love to," she answered. Harry looked at the black dog. Though dogs were hard to read, Harry swore he saw a smile on its face.
"Thank you, Snuffles," he said. The dog barked in return, "You can go now." The dog growled and Harry narrowed his eyes. Giving up, the dog padded away, giving Harry one last wink.
"That was odd," Jasna
said, "How come that dog…"
"Don't worry about it, Jasna. Just
believe it. Live each moment at a time
and wonder about it later. I think we
deserve that dance." Jasna grinned as Harry
pulled her close and the two began to dance.
Jasna tenderly leaned her head on his shoulder.
"What do you think?" he asked her.
"It's beautiful," she answered, taken away with the romance the evening held. Harry sighed into her silky raven hair.
"I will always love you."
"Even with all my imperfections?"
"What imperfections?" Jasna looked up at him to see a smile at his face. She rested her head back on his shoulder as he held her closer.
"You're the first person who knows my past and doesn't run away screaming," she whispered.
"They don't know you like I do."
"And how well do you know me, Harry Potter?"
"Better than you know yourself." Jasna was silent. Harry continued, "I know you better than I know myself. I know you better than the sun knows the moon. I need you more than the trees need sunlight. I love you more than a desert flower loves the cool rain. You're my desert flower…"
"And you're my rain." Jasna smiled, "What's with you? You've gone all poetic on me."
"Don't ruin the mood, just go with it," he winked at her. They softly danced to the mellow music without a care in the world.
"Harry, I wish we could stay like this forever. I know that must sound really stupid…" Harry put a finger to Jasna's lips.
"Sh, don't let it pass. Just listen. Listen to our beating hearts. Together."
"Whoa. You ARE poetic." Harry grinned.
"Yeah…I know." Jasna laughed. They listened to the calming music and as they danced, Jasna retreated to her blissful thoughts. She had never been happier in her life. Her days at Hogwarts were the best she ever experienced and her love for Harry Potter grew with every breath she took, with every word he uttered, with every smile that crossed their faces. She was perfectly content. And at that moment, though she was rarely happy at any other time in her life, she was happy at that moment and that was enough for her.
"Harry," she said.
"Yeah?" said Harry.
"This is the best night of my life."
"Awe, it's not that great, really."
"What?" Jasna asked, pulling away slightly and appearing confused. But Harry reassured her with a grin.
"You deserve much, much more." With a smile, Jasna allowed herself to be drawn back into Harry's embrace as the soft melody floated on the still night air.
In the weeks that followed, Jasna felt she was in heaven. Aside from the fact that her mother had passed away (she still didn't know how, no one would tell her) she was blissfully content. She had all she ever wanted.
No one knew, yet, about her family, other than the teachers, Harry, Ron and Hermione. Few knew she was bipolar. To most people, she was a normal girl. The only thing that made her different from anyone else at the school was her American accent. She was actually considered normal (or close to it.)
Ron and Hermione were extremely kind and friendly towards her, and they even knew her whole history. They were real friends, friends she had always prayed for and wished she'd had. And now, she had them. They made her feel like a real person.
And then there was Harry. Harry Potter was Jasna's whole world. He was the one who made life worth living. Jasna loved Harry more than life itself. She would die for him.
Little did she know, she might have to.
It was a cheery spring
day as she bounced into the Great Hall.
Her head was clearly in the clouds as she pulled her raven hair into a
tight ponytail at the back of her head.
She straightened her robes and walked with a grin and a spring in her
step to the Gryffindor table.
"Hey, you seem happy this morning!" Harry greeted her with a soft kiss.
"Why wouldn't I
be? It's a new morning, the sun is
shining, and I have everything I could ever ask for. And I owe it all to you, three."
"Us?" Harry asked, glancing at Hermione and Ron and sitting down at the table,
"Why do you say that?"
"I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for you guys. You've made me feel wanted for the first
time in my life. Before, I lived for my
mother. She was the only thing I
had. I probably would have committed
suicide without her, but then there was you guys. Thanks."
"No problem!" Ron cried, plopping a piece of French toast on his plate. Hermione grinned at Jasna.
"We like you, Jasna,"
Hermione told her.
"I know you do. I just wanted to thank
you for liking me."
"If anything, I should thank you for not committing suicide," Harry said to
her. Jasna smiled at him. She was taking her first bite of her eggs
when the post came. She gasped a letter
was dropped in front of her. She stared
in dismay at the owl that dropped the letter.
"What is it?" Harry
asked her.
"It's black."
"So?"
"Black owls bring bad news." Jasna opened the letter and stared at it in
horror. She stood up.
"Jasna, are you OK?" Harry asked her.
"I don't know," she
whispered, staring at the letter in her hand as she read through it. She took in a sharp breath.
"What's in the letter, Jasna?" Hermione asked.
Jasna was about to answer when a second owl came and dropped another
note. Jasna read it and both pieces of
parchment fluttered from her fingers as she ran out of the hall.
Harry picked up the fallen letters.
"What do they say?" Ron asked, concerned.
"The first one… 'I
know where you are. I can see you right
now. Sitting with your so-called
friends. I'm going to get you either
way, Jasna.' The first one ends
there. But then there's the second…"
"What does the second say?" Ron asked.
"Run," Harry whispered as he looked at his two friends across the table.
